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C-peptide: A new potential in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy

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Abstract

C-peptide is formed in the biosynthesis of insulin and the two peptides are subsequently released in equimolar amounts to the circulation. C-peptide has long been considered to be without physiologic effects. Recent data now demonstrate that C-peptide in the nanomolar concentration range binds specifically to cell surfaces, probably to G protein-coupled receptors, with subsequent activation of Ca2+-dependent intracellular signaling pathways and stimulation of Na+,K+-ATPase activities. C-peptide replacement in animal models of type 1 diabetes results in diminished hyperfiltration, improved functional reserve, reduction of urinary albumin excretion, and prevention of glomerular and renal hypertrophy. Administration of C-peptide to physiologic concentrations in patients with type 1 diabetes and incipient nephropathy for periods of 3 hours to 3 months is accompanied by reduced glomerular hyperfiltration and filtration fraction, and diminished urinary albumin excretion. C-peptide replacement together with insulin therapy may be beneficial in type 1 diabetes patients with nephropathy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Physiology A2:01, Department of Surgical Sciences, Karolinska Hospital, 171 76, Stockholm, SE, Sweden

    John Wahren MD, PhD, Karin Ekberg PhD, Björn Samnegård MD & Bo-Lennart Johansson MD, PhD

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  1. John Wahren MD, PhD
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  2. Karin Ekberg PhD
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  3. Björn Samnegård MD
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  4. Bo-Lennart Johansson MD, PhD
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Wahren, J., Ekberg, K., Samnegård, B. et al. C-peptide: A new potential in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy. Curr Diab Rep 1, 261–266 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-001-0044-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11892-001-0044-4

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